Harte-Hanks Inc. (HHS) Upgraded to Buy at Zacks Investment Research

Zacks Investment Research upgraded shares of Harte-Hanks Inc. (NYSE:HHS) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note published on Tuesday morning. They currently have $2.00 price target on the stock.

According to Zacks, “Harte-Hanks is a worldwide direct and targeted marketing company that provides marketing services and shopper advertising opportunities to local, regional, national and international consumer and business-to-business marketers. Harte-Hanks Direct Marketing improves return on its clients’ marketing investment by increasing their prospect and customer value a process of customer optimization organized around five strategic considerations: Information data collection/management — Opportunity data access/utilization — Insight data analysis/interpretation — Engagement knowledge application — Interaction program execution. Expert in integrating this process, Harte-Hanks Direct Marketing is highly skilled at tailoring solutions for each of the vertical markets it serves. “

Several other research analysts have also issued reports on HHS. Singular Research reduced their price target on Harte-Hanks from $4.50 to $3.80 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, June 21st. BMO Capital Markets restated a hold rating on shares of Harte-Hanks in a research report on Monday, July 18th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. Harte-Hanks currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $3.45.

Shares of Harte-Hanks (NYSE:HHS) opened at 1.68 on Tuesday. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $1.61 and a 200-day moving average price of $1.73. The company’s market cap is $103.34 million. Harte-Hanks has a 1-year low of $0.85 and a 1-year high of $4.35.

Harte-Hanks (NYSE:HHS) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 9th. The company reported ($0.11) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the Thomson Reuters’ consensus estimate of ($0.07) by $0.04. Harte-Hanks had a positive return on equity of 1.11% and a negative net margin of 38.76%. The company earned $97.30 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $116.25 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.04 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down 10.9% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts predict that Harte-Hanks will post ($0.02) earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Alpine Partners VI LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Harte-Hanks during the second quarter valued at approximately $100,000. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Harte-Hanks during the second quarter valued at approximately $118,000. Emerald Acquisition Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of Harte-Hanks during the second quarter valued at approximately $127,000. Nationwide Fund Advisors increased its stake in shares of Harte-Hanks by 51.1% in the second quarter. Nationwide Fund Advisors now owns 87,864 shares of the company’s stock valued at $140,000 after buying an additional 29,713 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Spark Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Harte-Hanks during the second quarter valued at approximately $180,000. 44.58% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Harte-Hanks Company Profile

Harte Hanks, Inc is a multi-channel marketing company. The Company operates through two segments, which include Customer Interaction and Trillium Software. The Customer Interaction segment provides a range of integrated, multi-channel, data-driven solutions for a range of brands around the globe. The Trillium Software segment is engaged in providing enterprise data quality solutions.